Topic suggested by Gokul on Fri Aug 14 17:21:48 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.
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Reviews of contemporary fiction, contemporary being anytime after WWII. :-). |
Responses:
- Old responses
- From: Ramamurthy (@ pppsl1443.chicagonet.net)
on: Wed Dec 30 23:23:33
Raj and Ramji:
Thanks for reviving the thread about our favourite author P.G.Wodehouse.I have collected all his books close to 100.The unfortunate thing is my American colleagues are blissfully ignorant about him and I have no one nearby with whom I can share my thoughts at my hospital.After your posting,I started reading his Drone's club stories which is a big relief on a cold wintry night in Chicago.Please continue your wodehouse postings
Ramamurthy
- From: babu (@ )
on: Tue Feb 2 23:04:24
Is this thread still alive ? Anyway I want to tell you guys about Vikram Seth. Man, he is THE BEST. His novel "The suitable Boy" is the best book I have read, its huge some 1300 pages but I have read it in full four times and in parts a zillion times. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND EVERYBODY TO READ IT. Arundhati's God of Small Things is brilliant of course ( in spite of certain unacceptable elements in the end ), but compared to vikram she pales. I would like to talk to someone who has read the book.
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Tue Feb 9 17:15:22
Hi Everyone,
Since A.Roy's "God...Things" has featured again in the last post, thought I would share my opinion.
I read that book immediately after I read "Fried Green Tomatoes" and was surprised at the similarity in the story telling technique used by A.Roy.
All in all, I think "God ....Things" was unconventional in its content and style, which was no doubt a breath of fresh air. But it did bore me during a couple of chapters.
Somewriters put down every thought of the character in print and leave nothing to our imagination. That's what I felt about Rahel's character. Of course, it is autobiographical to some extent.
I have not read very many books of late, but please do read "Fried Green Tomatoes" when you get a chance. The movie captures only half the beauty.
Bye
Anu
- From: babu (@ 198.153.135.234)
on: Wed Feb 10 23:44:24
Anu, is that book's name just that "Fried Green Tomatoes", I am going to the library to get it, just wanted to confirm
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Thu Feb 11 09:27:56
Hi Babu,
The actual title is "Fried Green Tomatoes at the whistle stop cafe". The setting is all southern, in Alabama during/before the civil rights movt.
Author's name is Fannie Flag.
Hope you enjoy it!
Anu
- From: babu (@ 198.153.135.231)
on: Tue Feb 16 15:12:14
Anu, I am reading the novel right now, the style is different, yes. more about it after completion :-)
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Wed Feb 17 11:30:20
Hi everyone,
This is a posting for advice. Any information will be greatly appreciated.
Since a very long time, I have wanted to own the complete comic collection of Amar Chitra Katha. The ACK website prices per copy at $2.99 and if the order is over 50 books then $1.99 per copy.
Here's my question. Anyone from India, can you tell me what the present price of an ACK book is? It's been so long since I bought one, that the price that I last know of is utterly ridiculous to talk of today.
Also, would it be better to buy it here or in India or does it really matter at all.
Thanks..
- From: Babu (@ 198.153.135.230)
on: Sat Feb 20 23:04:36
Anu, I just finished your recommendation - 'Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe' and I want to thank you a million times. The book is so complete, you know what I mean ? It made me laugh aloud on one page and very next page made my eyes wet. Thanks again.
BTW, I was planning to make Fried Green Tomatoes for Dinner tonight (from Sipsey's recipe) but unfortunately it needs bacon :-)))
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Mon Feb 22 10:54:03
Hi Babu,
Glad that you liked the book. Fried green tomatoes is a popular southern appetizer. (I am currently in Mississippi.) When I order for one, I ask them to make it with 'no-meat' in it. It will take some time to get used to the taste though and the secret's in the sauce..:-)
I am keeping track of all the recommended books here. Hope to start on them soon..
Thanks to you too..
Bye
Anu
- From: Kishore Krishna (@ ts4-232.silcon.com)
on: Tue Feb 23 00:26:58
Anu, an ACK in India costs 25 rupees. It would be cheaper to buy in India. I used to own a complete set of all ACK's - collection since dispersed. I did locate several about 50-60 titles for my nephew in January. The ACK people are rereleasing old titles with new numbers mostly - thus Krishna which was the very first title (no. 11) now carries no. 501 on the cover and so on. Several series such as the Mahabharatha, Freedom struggle have been published in the last 10 years though they don't appear to be in print any longer.
You may want to get all the Tintin and Asterix comics since they're cheaper too!
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Tue Feb 23 10:27:56
Hi Kishore Krishna,
Thank you so much for the information on ACK, Tintin and Asterix. You have done me a huge favour. Will have to wait for my next trip to India then...
Thanks again...
Anu
- From: Anu (@ ws239-24.allen.msstate.edu)
on: Fri Feb 26 15:04:24
Hello all,
Has anyone read this book by A.K.Ramanujan titled "A flowering tree and other oral tales from India" ? Any reviews, comments will be apprecitated.
Thanks in advance...
- From: vj (@ chme111pc6.ecn.purdue.edu)
on: Thu Mar 4 18:28:53
i have just issued that book by AKR wil start it in a week...
the reviews have been very very appreciative of his efforts in bringing together different folk stories in the english language....
but again, if you like him for his poems then this book would not be liked by you too much.
vijay
- From: JayBee (@ sp-69-139.tm.net.my)
on: Sun Mar 21 02:58:46
Anybody around who reads Asimov, Archer, Forsyth, Crichton among the contemporary writers? Has anyone read the "Foundation" series by Asimov?
Regards
JayBee
- From: bb (@ schubert.crhc.uiuc.edu)
on: Sun Mar 21 19:11:44
vj: if you like him for his poems then this book would not be liked by you too much. why is it so? has he written in a different style or what?
- From: vj (@ 128.210.124.102)
on: Mon Mar 29 17:20:53
bb,
for one this is not written by him, it is a collection gleaned from Indian folklore and he does not have freedom to say whay he wants to unlike his poems... have you read them? if you havent, you must!
vj
- From: bb (@ compq1.crhc.uiuc.edu)
on: Tue Mar 30 02:45:36
will do it, vj.. thanx..
- From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217)
on: Thu Apr 1 19:26:31
I recently read a novella, "Daisy Miller" by Henry James. It's a lot like the mood of Wings of Dove, but I think Wings came after he had mastered his craft and gained a wealth of wisdom from his life.
The central character, Daisy is American and bears a lot of resemblance to the American character in Wings. Maybe James was working out that character when she was a budding melon. I'm glad I read it, regardless. It is like a heterosexual version of Death in Venice only less haughty. James has the humility I love in Turgenev. He strikes me as a humble, proper soul with a very fragile ego and exquisite taste in life and language.
- From: Gokul (@ gatekeeper.ohioedison.com)
on: Mon Apr 5 14:06:30
I recommend J.D. Salinger's Nine stories. Teddy, Uncle Wiggily in CT, banana fish are my favorites.
- From: Bharat (@ isdbsd1-inet.ci.mil.wi.us)
on: Mon Apr 5 14:15:47
Udhaya, this may interest you. Daisy Miller was made into a film starring Cybill Shepherd, in the '70s and was such a huge bomb that it nearly wiped out its studio. Not a bad film, but I haven't read the book and so can't compare.
- From: Udhaya (@ 205.218.142.217)
on: Mon Apr 5 20:26:33
Thanks for the info, Bharat. Cybill as a reticent, innocent Daisy? Yikes! The movie's demise makes complete sense.
- From: vj (@ chme111pc1.ecn.purdue.edu)
on: Fri Apr 9 17:34:20
Gokul....
About nine stories... every story is left hanging in its own way in a dark room filled with cobwebs..
is there something i am missing?
vijay
- From: vj (@ chme111pc1.ecn.purdue.edu)
on: Fri Apr 9 17:35:12
Gokul....
About nine stories... every story is left hanging in its own way in a dark room filled with cobwebs..
is there something i am missing?
vijay
- From: Sri (@ t-34-182-179.dialup.wisc.edu)
on: Wed Apr 14 01:26:51
While we are on the topic of contemporary fiction, one of the oft mentioned books to hit the stands is Tom Wolfe's book (Man in Full). The book left me torn between his brilliant ability to spin a tail and his almost perfect portrayal of disgusting sexist and chauvinstic folk from the South. It is an easy read [despite being about 700 pages long]. Watch out for some of the best description of how politics works at the city level and how inner-city dynamics create a delicate tension between the powers that be and the powers that want to be. It is fun.
A couple of other recommendations may be J.D.Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, and this great non-fiction book by Stephen J. Gould called 'The Flamingo's smile'. I am interested in hearing more recommendations.
- From: Sri (@ t-34-182-179.dialup.wisc.edu)
on: Wed Apr 14 01:28:43
Amazing how some typos can be pretty embarassing. I meant to say 'spin a tale' and not 'spin a tail'. Lateral appendages are always pretty tricky huh? :-)
While we are on the topic of contemporary fiction, one of the oft mentioned books to hit the
stands is Tom Wolfe's book (Man in Full). The book left me torn between his brilliant ability
to spin a tail and his almost perfect portrayal of disgusting sexist and chauvinstic folk from the
South. It is an easy read [despite being about 700 pages long]. Watch out for some of the
best description of how politics works at the city level and how inner-city dynamics create a
delicate tension between the powers that be and the powers that want to be. It is fun.
A couple of other recommendations may be J.D.Salinger's Catcher in the Rye, and this great
non-fiction book by Stephen J. Gould called 'The Flamingo's smile'. I am interested in hearing
more recommendations.
- From: Gokul (@ gatekeeper.ohioedison.com)
on: Wed Apr 14 20:27:30
Vj Re Nine Stories by J.D.Salinger, I dont know what you meant by hanging in a darkroom with cobwebs. But stories like For Esme - With love & squalor are marvellous.
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